Response to foliar sprays of different sources of zinc on growth, yield and economics of soybean in Inceptisol

The present investigation was undertaken to study the “response to foliar sprays of different sources of zinc on growth, yield, quality and nutrient uptake by soybean in Inceptisol”. The experiment was conducted at research field of Post Graduate Institute Research Farm, Department of Soil Science, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, during kharif 2024. The experimental soil was with dominat smectite type of mineral belonging to the order Inceptisol. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design with three replications and nine treatments comprising of application of GRDF and different zinc sources viz., T₁: Absolute control, T₂: GRDF (50:75:45 N: P₂O₅: K₂O kg ha^-1 + 10 t ha^-1 FYM), T₃: GRDF + two water sprays, T₄: GRDF + two foliar spray of 0.1% ZnSO₄, T₅: GRDF + two foliar sprays of chelated Zn @ 0.2%, T₆: GRDF + two foliar sprays of nano Zn @ 500 ppm, T₇: GRDF + two foliar sprays of nano Zn @ 1000 ppm, T₈: GRDF + two foliar sprays of nano Zn @ 1500 ppm and T₉: GRDF + two foliar sprays of chelated zinc 0.1%. Two foliar sprays of zinc fertilizer sources were applied at 30 and 45 days after sowing (DAS).The results revealed that among different treatment combinations, the significantly highest total chlorophyll (0.54 mgg^-1),grain yield (21.59 q ha^-1) and stover yield (19.89 q ha^-1) of soybean was recorded inGRDF + two foliar sprays of chelated Zn @ 0.2% (T₅) at 30 and 45 days after sowing. The numerically highest number of nodules and pods plant^-1 wererecorded in treatment GRDF + two foliar sprays of chelated Zn @ 0.2% (T₅) at 30 and 45 days after sowing. Foliar sprays of different zinc sources on economics of soybean found beneficial aftter application different zinc treatments at 30 and 45 days after sowing.